Brick-machine



(No Model.) 4 SheetsSheet 1.

R. KNIOKERBOOKER.

BRICK MACHINE. No. 431,117. Patented July 1, 1890.

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BRICK MACHINE No. 431,117. Patented J111y1,1890.

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BRICK MACHINE. No. 431,117. Patented July 1, 1890.

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

, R. KNICKERBOGKER.

BRICK MACHINE. No. 431,117. Patented July 1,1890.

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' UNITED STAT S PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT KNICKERBOCKER, OF BLUE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CHARLES E. IVARDELL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BRICK-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 431,117, dated July 1, 1890.

Application filed January 10.1890. Serial No. 336/185. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT KNICKER- BooKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Blue Island, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Brick-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of brickmachines in which is provided a rotary platen with mold-boxes therein, and having an upper and lower set of dies which rotate with the frame, and which are caused to reciprocate vertically to .compress the clay within the mold-box to form the brick and likewise to eject the brick from the mold aftr it is pressed. In the preferred constructionl provide a base having a circular cam-track on its upper surface and a stationary plate above the base, supported therefrom by suitable posts or girders, said plate having a camtrack formed on its lower side, arotary platen having mold-boxes therein between the base and the described plate, a stationary feedboX delivering over the path of the moldboXes, a set of upper dies secured to reciprooate in vertical ways in a frame rotatable with the platen, a set of lower dies secured to reciprocate in ways below the platen and rotatable therewith, each set of dies having shanks bearing conical rolls adapted to the respective cam-tracks, an upper auxiliary cam-track on which the upper dies also have a bearing for lifting the dies at one point of their revolution, and a lower auxiliary camtrack to withdraw the lower dies in the moldboX, said lower auxiliary ca1n-track having a vertically-adjustable section, whereby the reciprocation of the lower dies may be varied to vary the quantity of clay admitted, and removable sections in the stationary top plate and in the lower cam-track to permit of the removal of the dies. I also give the upper and lower cam-tracks a peculiar configuration, so as to impart to the upper and lower dies peculiar movements, summarized as follows: After the mold-box is filled with the clay the upper dies are caused to move downwardly and the lower dies upwardly, the initial movement of the former being more rapid than that of the latter, and when the upper die has entered the mold-box a certain distance it begins to recede while the lower die continues to ascend, the result being that the formation of the brick under pressure is completed while it is being moved upwardly in the mold-box, and when the upper die leaves the mold-box the upper surface of the brick is flush with the top of the plate, and then, both upper and lower cam tracks being sharply inc-lined, the upper die is lifted clear and the lower die is moved up rapidly to eject the brick, which is removed by a suitable knock-off device. The upper and lower dies each have stems bearing conical rollers, and the cam-tracks are inclined toward the center of rotation to correspond to the formation of the rollers, and thereby the lateral movement of the rollers on the cam-tracks is avoided and abrasion of their surfaces and of the tracks obviated.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a machine of the preferred construction. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation, some of the parts omitted and other parts being shown entire. signed particularly to show the openingof the stationary top plate. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the upper and lower cam-tracks. 5 and 6 are detail views of the adjustable section of the lower auxiliary cam-track.

In the drawings, 9 represents a convenient base for the machine, on the uppersurface of which is formed a circular cam-track 10, having aremovable section 11 to permit the taking out and replacing of the dies. The bearingface of this cam-track is inclined downwardly from its inner to its outer edge-that is, toward the center of movement-as clearly shown in the drawings, and for a purpose hereinafter described. Rising from the center of the frame is an integral extension of the base in the form of a column 12, Which is the axis of the rotary parts. At the top of said column is secured a stationary plate 13, parallel to the base, having a removable section 13, Fig, 3, and on the under surface of said plate is a circular cam-track 14:, whose face is inclined toward the common center of the rotating parts.

15 is a rotary platen having the mold-boxes 16, and which platen may be rotated by a suit- Fig. 3 is a plan view de able driving-pinion, as 17, meshing with gearteeth 18 on the periphery of the platen.

19 is a frame, secured by the bolts 20 to rotate with the platen. In this frame are formed the guides 21 for the upper dies 22, whose cross-heads move within the guides 21 and carry the conical rollers 23, which are adapted to the bearing-surfaces of thecam-track 14. The cross-heads of the upper dies will slide freely in the ways, and the cam-track 14, being of the configuration shown in Fig. 4, will cause these dies at one point of the revolution (indicated at a b, Fig. 4) to move downward and enter the mold-box after the latter has been filled. From I) to c the cam-track 14 gradually rises, and the upper die will rise un- -der pressure of the lower one until it reaches the point c,-from whence to (Z the cam-track inclines upward sharply, thus permitting of the upper die being raised to pass any obstruction of the platen, as, for example, the stationary feed-box 24. From (Z to e the upper cam-track may be horizontal, and the upper die may be moved in a horizontal plane to pass said obstruction, after which the track declines sharply from c to a, thus causing the descent of the upper die upon the clay, which it commences to press at a.

Thelower dies (marked 25) move in ways 26 and carry the conical rollers 27, which are adapted to the lower cam-track 10. The con figuration of this track is shown in Fig. 4,

and is of a uniform inclination from f to g. 1

At the point f the clay will have been filled into the mold-box, whose bottom is closed by the lower die, and which die will then move upward, no pressure being exerted, however,

until the upper die has arrived at (L. At that point the pressure of the clay between the two dies commences and is constantly increased until the upper die reaches Z), at which point the upper die begins to rise, as before.

described, while the lower die constantly ascends from f to g, from which latter point to h the brick is ejected from the mold-box. From h to i the lower die may travelin a horizontal planethat is, with its upper end flush with the face of the platenand then it may descend by gravity; but it is preferably positively depressed by means of a lower auxiliary cam-track 28, which receives a roller29, secured to the end of the arbor 30 of the roller 27. This auxiliary cam-track need only be of such length as to act upon the lower die during its movement through a fragmentary portion of its circuit.as, for example, from 't' to f-and it effectually prevents any imperfection of operation caused by the clogging or sticking of the die in the 1nold-boxl fer to make this section of cam-track 2S vertically adjustable, and the means whereby it is adjusted are shown in Figs. 5 and 6, in which figures the cam-track has supporting-feet28, entering apertures in the base 10, which base is cut away beneath the cam-track 28 to receive the wedge 31.,whichlatter terminates in a threaded end 32, to which the adjusting-nut I prement of this track 28 the quantity of clay admitted to the mold-boxes may be regulated.

The clayor other materialto be pressed will be fed to the molds through a stationary feedbox 24, which may be of the form shown in Fig. 1, in which the box has the hopper 24; and the horizontal extension 24 opening over the path of the mold-boxes. here a stationary feed-box is employed, it is essential to provide some means for raising the upper die from the feed-box, which must project inward upon the platen over the mold-box. This may be done in a variety of ways; but the preferred form of construction is to employ an auxiliary cam-track 34, which may be a flanged casting bolted to the upper side of the top plate 13, and adapted to receive thereon a roller 35, secured upon the arbor 36 of the rollers 23. This track may be short, as the width of the mold-box is not great; but where it is desired to lift the upper die I over any obstruction 011 the platen-as, for

example, the knock-off devicethe cam-track 34 will correspondingly be lengthened.

1. Ln a brick-machine having a stationary base and top plate, each having integrallyformed circular cam-tracks, a revolving platen, and an upper and lower set of reciprocating dies rotatable with said platen, having hearing, respectively, on the cam-tracks of the base and top plate, and said top plate and base having removable sections to permit of the insertion and removal of the dies, substantially as described.

2. A brick-machine having an upper and lower set of reciprocating dies, a stationary base, and top plate, said base having a circ'ular cam-track whereon the lower dies have a bearing, said cam-track extending with a uniform upward inclination throughout the greater part of its length, and having at one point therein a raised portion adapted to lift the lower dies whereby to eject the brick, and said top plate having on its lower surface a circular cam-track on which the upper dies have a bearing, said cam-track being inclined at one point therein toward the lower cam-track and oppositely inclined throughout a portion of its length, but at a less degree than the corresponding portion of the lower cam-track, whereby the lower dies are caused to move faster than the upper dies during the act of forming the brick, substantially as described.

3. In a brick-machine, the combination of a stationary base and top plate, a rotary platen, an upper and a lower set of reciprocating dies, cam-tracks on the base and top plate on which the respective sets of dies have a bearing, and an upper auxiliary cam- IIO track on which the upper set of dies also have tion, and whereby their downward movement a bearing, said upper auxiliary track having may be regulated,substantially as described. a raised portion therein whereby to lift the r 1 Y dies at one point of their revolution, and a ROB EH1 KNIOKERBOCKER lower auxiliary cam-track having an adj ustlVitnesses: able section, whereby said lower (lies are posi- FREDERICK C. GOoDWIN, tively depressed at one point of their revolu- CHARLES C. LINTHIeUM. 

